13.05.2010 11:23
Abidal ready to play
Jesús Carrillo
Éric Abidal is set to return to the starting line-up this weekend as FC Barcelona take on Real Valladolid in Camp Nou after Maxwell suffered an injury against Sevilla in the last outing.
The French defender was in good form early in the campaign but was sidelined with a thigh injury
sustained in training in February. After a failed comeback last month Abidal is now set to play
once again and coach Pep Guardiola looks ready to name him in the team for the game that could see
the Blaugrana crowned as league champions.
Abidal's last appearance for Barça came in the 4-1 win against Arsenal in the second
leg of the Champions League quarter final in Camp Nou, but he limped out of the action after just
seven minutes and had to be replaced by Maxwell.
Another setback
Club medics believed that he was then ready to appear once again against Xerez on April 24,
but a groin strain curtailed that plan and he was once more left to ensure that he was fully fit
before being given the green light. Maxwell's injury last weekend now means that Abidal can at last
play once before the end of the current season.